Chapter 47
TheSUVpulledintothe Azzaro compound, tires crunching on gravel as we passed through the imposing iron gates. We came to a stop, and I heard bellowing but couldn’t make out the words. The door swung open and two men yanked me from the back seat, my legs buckling beneath me as they dragged me up the stiars and into the main house. The grand Mediterranean mansion loomed against the darkening sky, windows glowing with warm light that belied the darkness within.
Someone new stalked down the marble stairs, and the two dunderheads lifted me to my feet, but I kept my head down. The longer they thought I might be Rhea, the better. The suit came over, gripped my chin, and lifted my head.
“Bah,” he said, tossing my chin to the side and turning to the two that held me. “You fucking idiots. This is Gavriel’s bitch, not Rhea Azzaro.”
“She was driving her car, wearing her coat.”
A chuckle came from me as I sassed, “Gods forbid I drive her car or wear her clothes.”
The suit backhanded me, quick and efficient. The sting of it barely registered as I looked up and saw Gavriel standing at the top of the stairs. A slow smile spread across my lips.
His face was a perfect mask of cold indifference, but I caught the flash of relief in his eyes when he saw me.
The dunderheads pulled me up the stairs and into the foyer as Gavriel glared at each of them.
"What the hell is this?" he demanded, striding toward us. "You were supposed to find my sister."
I slowly lifted my head and met Gavriel's eyes, which narrowed as he looked at me. "Have you done something to Rhea? Where is she? What have you done with her?"
Playing along, I lifted my chin defiantly. "I’m keeping her safe. Something you weren’t able to do,Mr. Azzaro."
His hand shot out, gripping my throat with enough pressure to look convincing without actually hurting me. "You think this is a game? I don’t care if you’ve been warming my bed. Do you have any idea what you've done?"
"Talon, release her for now," came a commanding voice from the top of the grand staircase. Don Ezequiel Azzaro descended slowly, his expensive suit impeccable, his silver hair slicked back. "Miss Perkins. What an unexpected pleasure."
Gavriel released me with a shove that sent me stumbling backward. "Father, your soldiers are fucking idiots."
"I can see that," Ezequiel said, his voice dangerously soft. He lifted his arm, gun in hand. Two deafening shots later, I saw the two men who had taken me falling to the floor. Ezequiel sighed heavily, holstered his gun, and turned his full dark attention on me. "The question is, why wasshedriving Rhea's car and wearing her clothes?"
Before I could answer, another figure appeared from a side hallway. His booming voice demanded, “Where is my bride?”
Miguel Juarez. All five foot seven of him, with weathered olive skin and dark eyes, sauntered through the space.This is the asshole Ezequiel is marrying his daughter to?He stepped into the room in his tailored suit as his cold eyes assessed me like a piece of merchandise.
I involuntarily twitched, a flash of fear coursing through me. Pulling on my dominate side, I straightened my spine, lifted my chin, and glared at him. "Gone. Far away from you."
Juarez's hand struck as fast as a viper, slapping me hard enough to snap my head to the side. The taste of copper flooded my mouth.
"Enough," Ezequiel said sharply. "Take her to my study. We'll get answers there."
Gavriel stepped forward. "I'll handle this."
His father regarded him with suspicion. "Will you? Your loyalty has seemed . . . questionable lately."
"As you have made abundantly clear, she’s become a liability,” Gavriel replied coolly. "I know how to make the bitch scream until she begs to tell me anything I want to know."
A tense moment passed between father and son, years of mistrust and manipulation hanging in the air between them.
"Fine," Ezequiel finally said. "But I want results, not excuses."
Gavriel gripped my arm roughly, marching me down the hallway. Once we were out of earshot, his hold gentled slightly.
"Are you okay?" he whispered, barely moving his lips.
"As well as I can be," I murmured back. "Your guys?"
"In position. Some of Juarez’s men too. Harley's coordinating from the security room."
